Hedge Solutions, Inc

Hedge Solutions | Hedging, Purchasing, and Marketing Strategies Since 1993

Our energy market experts have over 100 years of combined experience in the supply, retail and terminal oil business, and over 35 years experience in hedging commodities.

Meet the Hedge Solutions Team

Richard M. Larkin, President, a veteran of the heating oil industry, founded Hedge Solutions in 1993. Since inception, the company has held steadfast to Rich’s philosophy: “If you educate your client, give him the independent advice that he can’t get anywhere else, stick with proven long-term hedging principles and remain dedicated to timely and relevant analysis, then you have a truly lasting relationship”. Retaining satisfied customers with a passion for performance transparency remains the company’s highest priority. Rich’s business model is rooted in the belief that energy marketers faced with a variety of purchasing options will find value and peace of mind with an independent and trustworthy advocate.

Aviral Chopra, Risk Analyst, came to Hedge Solutions in 2005 from Texas A&M University, where he received his master’s degree in Applied Economics. He manages the trading book for Northland Energy, sister company to Hedge Solutions. Originally from India, Avi is regularly quoted about the energy markets on CNBC, broadcast in his home country.

Taylor Hudson, Senior Account Executive, has been a key member of the Hedge Solutions team since 2001. In addition to his responsibilities as an Account Executive, Taylor works continuously to improve derivatives strategies and management tools for clients. A frequent speaker and teacher for industry association venues, he is also a regular contributor to Oil & Energy, a publication of the New England Fuel Institute. Taylor graduated from Virginia Tech, earning both a B.S. and M.S. in Applied Economics, with a focus on commodity market analysis and price forecasting.

Mark Skaparas, Account Executive, joined our team in Spring 2008. His background in the oil industry includes serving the needs of marketers with Irving Oil, Rio Energy and Angus Energy.
Mark has managed a territory of almost two hundred accounts with a volume of over 242,000,000 gallons while actively consulting customers on pricing, fuel requirements, availability, and risk management. His experience has spanned a broad range of trading and risk management services to heating oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and propane distributors throughout the Northeast.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Oilheat Council.

Kris Magnusson, Manager of Client Support, knows the petroleum industry well. She grew up in her family’s heating oil business and later worked in operations at the Oil Heat Council of New Hampshire.

Kris has recently held positions at Irving Oil as a project analyst and at Direct Capital as a Commercial Product Manager. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds an MBA from the Whittemore School of Business at the University of New Hampshire.
Kris has served as Chairperson for the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board and on the Rockingham County 4-H Foundation.

Frank Rabusic, Energy Executive, is responsible for strategy, risk and portfolio management for commercial & industrial clients in the oil products and natural gas markets. Frank has a Master’s degree from the University of Economics- Prague and 10 years of experience in the energy sector, both in Europe and the US. His concentration has been on natural gas, electricity, oil products and carbon. He joined Hedge Solutions, Inc. from one of Europe’s largest energy consultancies, EnergyQuote. A former energy trader with British Gas Business and Centrica, he has provided guidance to a portfolio of large multinational companies for their energy risk management, market intelligence, forecasting and analytics. Previously he held various senior positions at energy companies in the United Kingdom.

Kirk Blanchard, Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer, is a current Trustee of Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc., (Wash, DC) and was formerly CEO of Wyatt Energy and Co-founder of Vertrax, Inc. During his 35 years in the heating oil industry, he has also served as Vice President and Director of Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Association and in various capacities with New England Fuel Institute and Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association. He is a former Chairman of the Yankee chapter of The Young Presidents Organization and holds a BS from UNC and MBA-Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Curtis LeColst, Client Support Administrator, recently joined our team after working in a support and marketing role in the financial services industry. He has a B.A. in Public Relations from Quinnipiac University as well as an MBA from Southern Connecticut State University.

Domenic Bramante, Controller joined Hedge Solutions in 2009. He is responsible for General Accounting, Financial Reporting, Cash Management, Billing, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable. Domenic holds a BS in Finance from the University of Massachusetts – Boston and has 25 years experience of diversified financial accounting and financial analysis in the global communications and high technology industry.

Adam T Kovacs, Junior Derivatives Trader & Analyst, joined us in 2009 from State Street Bank & Trust where he was head of futures and options portfolio reconciliation between JP Morgan & Chase and Calvert Investments. Soon to graduate with his MS in Finance from Southern New Hampshire University, Adam assists the senior trader and risk manager in managing and reconciling Northland Energy’s trading book. He also analyzes the market’s underlying economics and provides day-to-day technical analysis which he summarizes in our daily EnergyTech. He is a regular contributor to Oil & Energy magazine.